Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Report on invasive species on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands


Appendix 2.

Table 1.   Species that are invasive elsewhere in similar ecosystems but are not known to be present on Rota
Table 2.  Introduced species that are invasive elsewhere and are also invasive or potentially invasive on Rota
Table 3.  Species that are reported as invasive or weedy elsewhere and are common or weedy on Rota
Table 4.  Native and naturalized species that exhibit aggressive behavior


Table 1. Species that are invasive elsewhere in similar ecosystems but are not known to be present on Rota

Scientific Name Common Names Family Habit
Abelmoschus moschatus English: fautia, musk mallow, musk okra; French: ambrette, gombo musqué, ketmie musquée, graine de musc; Other:  kamang, ka‘mang (Guam); karereon, karereon nikapwerik nik, kareron, likonokon (Chuuk); gongul (Palau); metei, mety, methey (Pohnpei); hathongethong, kamwayang, nikapwerik, setmwechin, sotumo (Yap);  wakiwaki, wakewake, wakeke, vakeke, aukiki, okeoke, o‘e‘e (Fiji); fou ingo (Niue), fau ingo (Wallis and Futuna); ‘aute toga, fau tagaloa, fua samasama (American Samoa and Samoa); loa, fau‘ingo (Tonga) Malvaceae herb
Acacia farnesiana English:  Ellington curse, klu, sweet acacia; French:  cassie; Other:  aroma, popinac, kandaroma (Guam, CNMI); kolu (Hawai'i); vaivai vaka-vatona, vaivai vakavotona, ban baburi, oki (Fiji); te kaibakoa (Kiribati); debena (Nauru) Fabaceae shrub
Acacia longifolia English:  Sydney golden wattle, golden wattle, long-leaved wattle, long-leaved acacia, sallow wattle, coast wattle, golden rods Fabaceae tree
Acacia mangium English: mangium; Other: tuhkehn pwelmwahu (Pohnpei) Fabaceae tree
Acacia mearnsii English: black wattle; French: acacia noir Fabaceae tree
Acacia melanoxylon English: Australian blackwood, blackwood acacia Fabaceae tree
Acacia nilotica English:  prickly acacia, black thorn, Egyptian thorn, Nile acacia, algaroba, babul, gum arabic tree; French: acacia à gomme; Spanish: algarrobo; Other:  tiare (New Caledonia) Fabaceae tree
Acacia spp. English:  acacia Fabaceae shrubs/trees
Ageratina riparia English: spreading mistflower, creeping croftonweed, river eupatorium; Other: hamakua pamakani (Hawai‘i) Asteraceae shrub
Ailanthus altissima English:  tree of heaven, varnishtree Simaroubaceae tree
Albizia chinensis English: Chinese albizia, silktree Fabaceae tree
Aleurites moluccana English:  candlenut, Indian walnut; French:  bancoulier, bancoulier, noyer de bancoul, noyer des Moluques; Other:  lumbang (Guam), raguar (Caroline Islands); sakan, shakan (Pohnpei); lama (American Samoa and Samoa); kukui (Hawai’i); tuitui (Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga), 'ama (Marquesas); lauci, lauthe, lauthi, toto, tuitui, tutui, waiwai, sekeci,sikethi, sikeli, nggerenggere (Fiji); tahii tiairi, ti’a’iri, tutui, tahiri (French Polynesia) Euphorbiaceae tree
Allamanda cathartica English:  yellow trumpet vine, golden trumpet, allamanda, brownbud allamanda, golden allamanda, golden cup; French:  monette jaune, li’ane s’aime; Other:  pua taunofo (American Samoa and Samoa), lani-ali‘i (Hawai‘i) Apocynaceae shrub
Alstonia macrophylla English: devil-tree Apocynaceae tree
Alternanthera philoxeroides English: alligator weed Amaranthaceae herb
Anacardium occidentale English:  cashew, cashew nut; French:  anacardier, pomme de cojou, acajou a pommes, pommier d’acajou; Other:  kasoi (Guam), ‘apu ‘initia (Samoa); kesiu (Tonga) Anacardiaceae tree
Andropogon gayanus English:  gamba grass, tambuki grass Poaceae grass
Andropogon glomeratus English:  bush beardgrass, bushy bluestem Poaceae grass
Andropogon virginicus English: broomsedge, yellow bluestem, whisky grass Poaceae grass
Annona glabra English: pond apple, alligator apple, bullock's heart, cherimoyer; French: annone des marais, corossolier des marais; Other: uto ni mbulumakau, uto ni bulumakau, kaitambo, kaitambu (Fiji) Annonaceae tree
Annona squamosa English: sugar apple, sweetsop, custard apple, sugar apple; French: annone écailleuse, pomme-canelle; Other:  atis, ates (Guam); ngel ra ngebard (Palau), ‘apele papalangi, ‘apele Tonga (Tonga), tapotapo (French Polynesia) Annonaceae tree
Anredera cordifolia English: Madeira vine, mignonette vine, lamb's tails; Other:  ‘uala hupe (Hawai‘i); filikafa (Niue) Basellaceae vine
Araujia sericifera English:  moth plant, moth catcher, white bladder flower Asclepiadaceae shrub
Ardisia crenata English:  hen's eyes, Hilo holly, coral berry, Australian holly, scratchthroat; French:  arbre à noël Myrsinaceae shrub
Ardisia elliptica English: shoebutton ardisia; Other: ati popa'a, atiu (French Polynesia) Myrsinaceae shrub
Argyreia nervosa English: elephant creeper, Hawaiian baby woodrose , silver morning glory, woolly morning glory; French: coup d'air, liane a minguet, liane d' argent Convolvulaceae vine
Aristolochia littoralis English:  Dutchman's pipe, calico flower; Other:  fue paipa holani (Tonga) Aristolochiaceae vine
Arthrostemma ciliatum English: everblooming eavender Melastomataceae herb
Arundo donax English:  giant reed, Spanish reed, wild cane; French: canne de Provence, grand roseau; Other:  ngasau ni vavalangi (Fiji); fiso papalagi (Samoa); kaho folalahi (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Asparagus densiflorus English:  asparagus fern, sprengeri fern, smilax, regal fern Liliaceae herb
Austroeupatorium inulaefolium   Asteraceae herb
Axonopus compressus English: blanket grass, carpetgrass; Other:  kambutu ni vavalangi (Fiji), vaolima (Samoa) Poaceae grass
Axonopus fissifolius English: caratao grass,  narrow-leaved carpetgrass Poaceae grass
Azadirachta indica English:  neem, nim, margosa Meliaceae tree
Azolla pinnata English:  mosquito fern, ferny azolla, water velvet Azollaceae fern
Barleria lupulina English:  hophead, Philippine violet Acanthaceae shrub
Barleria prionitis English:  barleria, porcupine flower Acanthaceae shrub
Bauhinia purpurea English:  purple orchid tree; purple butterfly tree, pink butterfly tree (Fiji); French: fleurs pourpres Fabaceae tree
Bauhinia variegata English:  orchid tree; mountain ebony, butterfly tree (Fiji); French: bois de boeuf, sabot boeuf, arbre de Saint-Thomas Fabaceae tree
Blainvillea gayana   Asteraceae herb
Bocconia frutescens English:  bocconia, plume-poppy, tree celandine, parrotweed Papaveraceae shrub
Boerhavia coccinea English: boerhavia, hog weed, hog feed, red spiderling, wineflower, tar vine; Other: mata pavo, patagon Nyctaginaceae herb
Breynia disticha English:  snowbush, snowbush breynia, sweetpea bush, foliage-flower Euphorbiaceae shrub
Brillantaisia lamium   Acanthaceae shrub
Bryophyllum delagoense English: chandelier plant Crassulaceae herb
Buddleja asiatica English: dog tail; Other: huelo ‘ilio (Hawai'i) Scrophulariaceae shrub
Buddleja davidii English:  orange eye, butterfly bush, summer lilac Scrophulariaceae shrub
Buddleja madagascariensis English: butterfly bush, smoke bush Scrophulariaceae shrub
Caesalpinia decapetala English:  cats claw, Mysore thorn, Mauritius thorn, wait-a-bit; French: bois sappan; Other:  puakelekino (Hawai'i) Fabaceae shrub
Calamus spp. English:  rattan; Other:  rotan, bejuko-n-halumtano, rotan bejuro-n-halumtan (Guam); bangerenguis ra ngebard (Palau) Arecaceae shrub (palm)
Calliandra calothyrsus English: powderpuff red calliandra; Other:  kaliana (Samoa) Fabaceae shrub
Calliandra haematocephala English:  red powder puff; French: pompon Fabaceae shrub
Calliandra surinamensis English: Surinamese stickpea Fabaceae tree
Callisia fragrans English:  fragrant inch plant, basketplant, spironema Commelinaceae herb
Calotropis gigantea English:  calotrope, crown flower, bowstring hemp, madar; French: mercure végétal, mudar; Other: pua-kalaunu (Hawai'i); tahinu (French Polynesia) Ascelepiadaceae shrub
Calotropis procera English:  calotropis, rubber bush, apple of Sodom, mudar, madar, king’s crown, roostertree; French: arbre à soie Asclepiadaceae shrub/tree
Cardiospermum grandiflorum English: balloon vine; heart seed Sapindaceae vine
Carpobrotus edulis English:  ice plant, pigface, hottentot fig Aizoaceae succulent
Castilla elastica English:  Panama rubber tree, Mexican rubber tree, uletree; Other:  pulu mamoe (American Samoa) Moraceae tree
Casuarina glauca English:  swamp oak, saltmarsh ironwood, longleaf ironwood, gray sheoak Casuarinaceae tree
Cecropia obtusifolia English: trumpet tree, guarumo Cecropiaceae tree
Cecropia peltata English: trumpet tree; French:  parasolier, faux-ricin, pisse-roux, bois cannon Cecropiaceae tree
Cedrela odorata English:  cigar box cedar, Mexican cedar, West Indian cedar, Spanish cedar, Barbados cedar; French: cèdre acajou, cèdre des barbares; Spanish: cedro cubano (Galapagos Is.); Other: sita hina (Tonga) Meliaceae tree
Cenchrus ciliaris English:  buffelgrass, African foxtail grass, anjan grass; French: cenchrus cilié Poaceae grass
Cestrum diurnum English:  inkberry, day jessamine, day cestrum, China berry; Other: thauthau (Fiji); tinta ‘n-China, tentanchinu, tintan China (Guam, CNMI); makahala (Hawai'i); sugi vao, suni vao (Samoa); vaitohi (Tonga) Solanaceae shrub
Cestrum nocturnum English: night-flowering cestrum, night-flowering jasmine, queen (or lady) of the night; Other: teine o le po, ali‘i o le po (American Samoa and Samoa); thauthau, thauthau ni mbongi, kara (Fiji); dama-de-noche (Guam); ‘ala aumoe, kupaoa, onaona Iapana (Hawai‘i); joñoul ru awa (Marshall Islands); iki he po (Niue); lakau po‘uli (Tonga) Solanaceae shrub
Cestrum parqui English:  green cestrum, willow-leaved jessamine, Chilean cestrum, green poison-berry Solanaceae shrub
Chrysobalanus icaco English:  coco plum, icaco; French: icacier, icaquier, icaque, prune colon; Other: apolo (Fiji) Chrysobalanaceae shrub
Chrysophyllum oliviforme English:  satin leaf, wild star-apple, damson plum; Spanish: caimitillo Sapotaceae tree
Cinchona pubescens English:  quinine tree, red cinchona; French: quinquina rouge; Spanish: cascarilla Rubiaceae tree
Cinnamomum burmannii English:  padang cassia; French: cannelier de Malaisie Lauraceae tree
Cinnamomum camphora English:  camphor tree, camphor laurel; French: camphre, camphrier Lauraceae tree
Cinnamomum verum English:  cinnamon tree; French: cannelier de Ceylan; Other:  ochod ra ngebard (Palau). tinamoni, tigamoni (American Samoa and Samoa) Lauraceae tree
Cirsium vulgare English: spear thistle, Scotch thistle, bull thistle, black thistle, plume thistle; Other:  pua kali (Hawai'i) Asteraceae herb
Cissus nodosa English:  grape ivy Vitaceae liana
Citharexylum caudatum English: juniper berry Verbenaceae tree
Citharexylum spinosum English: fiddlewood; Other: masese (Fiji) Verbenaceae tree
Clausena excavata English: clausena Rutaceae tree
Clerodendrum chinense English:  Honolulu rose, stickbush, glory bower; Other:  losa Honolulu, losa onolulu (American Samoa and Samoa); pikake hohono, pikake wauke (Hawai'i), pitate mama (Cook Islands) Verbenaceae shrub
Clerodendrum japonicum English: glorybower Verbenaceae shrub
Clerodendrum paniculatum English: pagoda plant, pagoda flower; Other: butcherechár, butecherechar (Palau); tukehn sousou (Pohnpei) Verbenaceae shrub
Clidemia hirta English:  Koster’s curse, soap bush; French: canot-macaque; Other:  kui, kúi (Palau); kauresinga, kaurasinga, roinisinga, ndraunisinga, mara na bulumakau, mbona na mbulamakau, vuti (Fiji); kaurasiga (from Ecoport, no source given) Melastomataceae shrub
Clusia rosea English:  signature tree, autograph tree, copey, Scotch attorney, pitchapple Guttiferae tree
Coccinia grandis English: ivy gourd, scarlet-fruited gourd; Other: kundru (Fiji); kiuri awia (Marshall Islands); aipikohr (Pohnpei) Cucurbitaceae vine
Commelina diffusa English: commelina, dayflower, wandering Jew, spiderwort; Spanish:  chiriyuyo; Other: semprebiban-damalong (Guam); honohono (Hawai‘i); mau‘utoga, mau‘u Tonga (American Samoa and Samoa); mohuku vai, musie matala pulu (Tonga); ai rorongi, ai rongorongo, airogorogo, cobulabula, rongomatailevu, thombulambula, matembulambula, drano,duludauwere, ndrano, ndulandauwere, luna, tho nggalonggalo (Fiji), ma‘apape (French Polynesia) Commelinaceae herb
Conocarpus erectus English:  sea mulberry, buttonwood, button mangrove Combretaceae shrub/tree
Cordia alliodora English:  laurel, Ecuador laurel, salmwood, Spanish elm; French: bois de Chypre, pardillo; Other: kotia (Samoa, Tonga) Boraginaceae tree
Cordia curassavica English: black sage Boraginaceae shrub
Cordia glabra English: broad-leaved cordia Boraginaceae tree
Cortaderia jubata English:  jubata grass, Andean pampas grass, purple pampas grass Poaceae grass
Cortaderia selloana English:  pampas grass, silver pampas grass, Uruguayan pampas grass Poaceae grass
Corynocarpus laevigatus English: New Zealand laurel, karakara nut Corynocarpaceae tree
Costus speciosus English:  crepe ginger, crape ginger, wild ginger, Malay ginger, canereed; Other:  isebsab (Palau) Zingiberaceae herb
Crassocephalum crepidoides English:  thickhead, fireweed, redflower ragleaf; Other:  fua lele, pualele (American Samoa and Samoa); maraburubo (Solomon Islands); fisi puna (Tonga); se vuka (Fiji) Asteraceae herb
Crotalaria micans English: crotalaria; Other: pine kotalelia, pile (Niue) Fabaceae shrub
Cryptostegia grandiflora English:  rubber vine, India rubber vine, Palay rubbervine; Other:  liane de gatope (New Caledonia) Asclepiadaceae vine
Cryptostegia madagascariensis English:  Madagascar rubbervine Asclepiadaceae vine
Cupaniopsis anacardioides English:  carrotwood, tuckeroo Sapindaceae tree
Cuscuta campestris English:  golden dodder, field dodder, five-angled dodder; Other:  navereverelangi, wa vereverelangi, wa lawala, wa mbosuthu, wa ndanga, wa tikaivu, ndithangi (Fiji) Convolvulaceae vine
Cyathea cooperi English: Australian tree fern Cyatheaceae fern
Cyperus involucratus English:  umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, dwarf papyrus grass; Other: ‘ahu‘awa haole, pu‘uka‘a haole (Hawai‘i) Cyperaceae sedge
Dalbergia sissoo English:  Indian dalbergia, Indian rosewood, sissoo, shisham; French: ébénier juane Fabaceae tree
Delairea odorata English: German ivy, Italian ivy, cape ivy Asteraceae vine
Derris malaccensis English: New Guinea creeper; Other:  ‘ava niukini (American Samoa); nduva, tuva, nduva ni niukini (Fiji); akau niukini (Niue); fue fa‘i ‘ava (Samoa); kava fisi (Tonga) Fabaceae vine
Desmodium nicaraguense Spanish: engorda-caballo, vara de arco, pie de paloma, vara larga, vara blanca, Juana de Arco, gutao, Juana Larga Fabaceae shrub
Desmodium tortuosum English:  Florida beggarweed, Spanish clover, dixie ticktrefoil Fabaceae herb
Dichrostachys cinerea English: aroma, Kalahari Christmas tree, Chinese lantern tree, sickle bush, marabou-thorn, marabú, Sen Domeng, Saint Domingue, acacia Saint Domingue Fabaceae shrub
Dieffenbachia seguine English: dieffenbachia, dumb cane; Other: yalu ni vavalagi (Fiji) Araceae herb
Digitaria insularis English: cottongrass, sourgrass, feather-top grass Poaceae grass
Digitaria violascens English: smooth crabgrass, violet crabgrass; Other: sau (Palau) Poaceae grass
Dillenia suffruticosa English: shrubby dillenia, shrubby simpoh Dilleniaceae shrub/tree
Dissotis rotundifolia English: dissotis, Spanish shawl, pink lady Melastomataceae herb
Echinochloa polystachya English: aleman grass, carib grass, creeping rivergrass Poaceae grass
Egeria densa English:  egeria, leafy elodea, dense waterweed Hydrocharitaceae aquatic herb
Elaeis guineensis English: African oil palm; French: palmier à huile d'Afrique; Other: apwiraiasi (Pohnpei) Arecaceae tree
Epipremnum pinnatum cv. 'Aureum' English: pothos, money plant; Other: yalu, wa yalu, wa lu, alu, halu, waloa, matha, nanggalanggala, nanggalinggali, tonga, tanga (Fiji); alu (Tonga) Araceae vine
Erigeron karvinskianus English: Mexican daisy, seaside daisy, daisy fleabane Asteraceae herb
Eriobotrya japonica English:  loquat, Japanese plum, Japanese medlar; French: bibassier, néflier du Japon; Other:  loketi (Tonga) Rosaceae tree
Eugenia uniflora English: Surinam cherry, red Brazil cherry; French: cerisier carré, cerisier de Cayenne; Other: kafika, kafika palangi (Niue), pitanga (Brazil) Myrtaceae shrub/tree
Falcataria moluccana English:  Molucca albizia; Other:  tamaligi palagi (American Samoa); tuhke kerosene, tuhkehn karisihn (Pohnpei); ukall ra ngebard (Palau); tamaligi uliuli (Samoa) Fabaceae tree
Ficus altissima English:  lofty fig, false banyan, council tree Moraceae tree
Ficus benghalensis English:  banyan, Indian banyan, vada tree; French: figuier des pagodes Moraceae tree
Ficus benjamina English: weeping fig, baka, Java fig, weeping fig ; Other: ‘ovava fisi (Tonga) Moraceae tree
Ficus elastica English: India rubber tree, rubber plant; Other: komunoki, komunokí (Palau); rapah (Pohnpei); gak'iynigoma (Yap) Moraceae tree
Ficus macrophylla English:  Moreton Bay fig Moraceae tree
Ficus nota English:  tibig Moraceae tree
Ficus rubiginosa English:  rusty-leaved fig, Port Jackson fig, littleleaf fig Moraceae tree
Flacourtia rukam English: Indian plum, Indian prune, governor's plum; French: prunier café, prunier de Chine, prunier malgache; Other: filimoto (Fiji, Futuna, Samoa and American Samoa, Tonga) Flacourtiaceae tree
Flemingia macrophylla     Fabaceae tree
Flemingia strobilifera English: luck plant, wild hops; French: sainfoin du bengale; Other: besungelaiei (Palau) Fabaceae shrub
Flindersia brayleyana English: Queensland maple, silkwood Rutaceae tree
Funtumia elastica English:  African rubber tree, silkrubber; French: arbre à caoutchouc; Other:  pulu vao (Samoa) Apocynaceae tree
Furcraea foetida English:  Mauritius hemp, sisal, maguey, giant cabuya; French: aloès vert, chanvre de Maurice; Other: malina (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau)); toua (Niue); lautalotalo papalagi (Samoa); faumalila, fau malila (Tonga) Agavaceae succulent
Furcraea hexapetala English:  Cuban hemp, hemp; Other:  cubuya (Galapagos Islands) Agavaceae succulent
Gliricidia sepium English: mother of cacao, quickstick; Spanish: madre de cacao Fabaceae tree
Gomphocarpus physocarpus English:  balloon plant, bladderbush Asclepiadaceae shrub
Grevillea banksii English: kahili flower, Banks grevillea; Other: ha‘iku, kahili (Hawai‘i); ‘oka pua ‘ula‘ula (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau)) Proteaceae tree
Grevillea robusta English:  silk oak, silky oak, he oak, silver oak, spider flower; Other: ‘oka kilika, ha‘iku ke‘oke‘o (Hawai'i), oke‘ (Tonga) Proteaceae tree
Grewia asiatica English: phalsa Tiliaceae tree
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides English: Senegal tea, temple plant Asteraceae herb
Haematoxylum campechianum English:  logwood, bloodwood tree, campeachy wood, campeche  Fabaceae tree
Harungana madagascariensis English: harungana Clusiaceae tree
Hedychium coronarium English:  white ginger, butterfly lily, ginger lily, garland flower; Other:  tunun, sinser (Chuuk); ndrove, cevuga vula, dalasika (Fiji); thevunga (Fiji, Tonga); ‘awapuhi ke‘oke‘o (Hawai‘i), sinter pwetepwet (Pohnpei); tolon (Puluwat) Zingiberaceae herb
Hedychium flavescens English:  yellow ginger, cream ginger; French: longoze; Other: opuhi rea rea (French Polynesia); ‘awapuhi melemele (Hawai'i), teuila (Samoa) Zingiberaceae herb
Hedychium gardnerianum English:  kahili gingerOther:  cevuga dromodromo (Fiji); kahili, ‘awapuhi kahili (Hawai‘i); sinter weitahta (Pohnpei) Zingiberaceae herb
Heliconia spp. English:  heliconia, parrot's-flower, parrot's-plantain, crab claw, lobster claw Heliconiaceae herb
Heliocarpus popayanensis English:  moho, white moho Tiliaceae tree
Hemigraphis alternata English: metal leaf; red ivy, cemetery plant (Fiji) Acanthaceae herb
Heterocentron subtriplinervium English: pearl flower Melastomataceae herb
Hiptage benghalensis English: hiptage; French: liane de cerf Malpighiaceae shrub
Hydrilla verticillata English: hydrilla, Florida elodea, water thyme Hydrocharitaceae herb
Hylocereus undatus English: night-blooming cereus, strawberry pear, red pitaya, dragon fruit, pitahaya; French: pitaya, pitahaya rouge; Spanish: flor de Caliz; Other: paniniokapunahou, papipi pua (Hawai'i) Cactaceae succulent
Hymenachne amplexicaulis English:  hymenachne, trompetilla, West Indian marsh grass Poaceae grass
Hyparrhenia rufa English: jaragua grass, thatching grass Poaceae grass
Hypochoeris radicata English: hairy cat’s ear, gosmore Asteraceae herb
Hyptis suaveolens English:  wild spikenard, chan; French: gros baume, hyptis à odeur; Other:  mumutun (Guam) Lamiaceae herb
Imperata cylindrica English: blady grass, cogon grass, satintail; French:  paille de dys, paillotte, impérata cylindrique, impérate; Other:  gi, ngi (Fiji); alang-alang, lalang (Indonesia, Malaysia); kasoring (Palau) Poaceae grass
Indigofera suffruticosa English: indigo; Other:  aniles (Guam); ‘iniko, inikoa, kolu (Hawai'i); la‘au mageso (Samoa); ‘akau veli (Tonga) Fabaceae shrub
Ischaemum rugosum English: muraina grass, wrinkle duck-beak, saramatta grass; Other: tho muraina, co muraina (Fiji) Poaceae grass
Ischaemum timorense English:  centipede grass, stalkleaf murainagrass, lucuntu grass; Other:  waidoi grass (Fiji) Poaceae grass
Jacaranda mimosifolia English:  jacaranda Bignoniaceae tree
Jasminum fluminense English:  Brazilian jasmine Oleaceae vine
Jatropha gossypiifolia English: bellyache bush, cotton-leaved physic nut Euphorbiaceae shrub
Juncus spp. English: rush Juncaceae rush
Justicia carnea English: pink plume-flower, pink jacobinia Acanthaceae shrub
Khaya senegalensis English: African mahogany, Senegal mahogany Meliaceae tree
Kunzea ericoides English:  tree manuka, tree manuba, kanuka (New Zealand), burgan, white teatree Myrtaceae tree
Kyllinga polyphylla English: Navua sedge; Other: tuise tele, tuise fiti (Samoa) Cyperaceae sedge
Lantana camara English: lantana; Other: latana (American Samoa and Samoa); taramoa (Cook Islands); kauboica, kaumboitha, mbonambulumakau, mbona ra mbulumakau, tokalau, waiwai, lanitana (Fiji); taratara hamoa, taratara moa (French Polynesia); latora moa, tatara moa (French Polynesia (Tahiti)); lakana, la‘au kalakala, lanakana (Ni‘ihau), mikinolia hihiu, mikinolia hohono, mikinolia kuku (Hawai'i); ros fonacni (Kosrae); te kaibuaka, te kaibuaja (Kiribati); migiroa (Nauru), landana, rantana, rahndana, tukasuweth (Pohnpei); talatala, talatala talmoa (Tonga) Verbenaceae shrub
Lemna spp. English:  duckweed; Other: fala‘o‘oto (Samoa) Lemnaceae herb
Leonotis nepetifolia English:  lion’s tail, lion’s ear, Christmas candlestick; French: gros bouton, gros tête Lamiaceae herb
Leonurus japonicus English:  lion’s tail, Chinese motherwort Lamiaceae herb
Leptospermum scoparium English: New Zealand tea; manuka (New Zealand) Myrtaceae tree
Licuala grandis English: ruffled fan palm; French: palmier-cuillère Arecaceae tree (palm)
Ligustrum spp. English:  privet Oleaceae shrubs/small trees
Lonicera japonica English:  Japanese honeysuckle, Hall’s honeysuckle; Other:  honekakala (Hawai'i) Caprifoliaceae vine
Lophostemon confertus English: brush box, Brisbane box, vinegar tree Myrtaceae tree
Ludwigia peruviana English: ludwigia, Peruvian primrose, water primrose Onagraceae shrub
Macfadyena unguis-cati English: cat's-claw climber Bignoniaceae vine
Macroptilium atropurpureum English:  siratro, purple bushbean Fabaceae herb
Maesopsis eminii English: umbrella tree, musizi Rhamnaceae tree
Medinilla magnifica English: chandelier tree, showy melastome, showy medinilla, Malaysian orchid Melastomataceae shrub
Medinilla venosa English: holdtight Melastomataceae shrub
Melaleuca quinquenervia English: melaleuca, cajeput, paper bark tree, punk tree; Other: niaouli (New Caledonia) Myrtaceae tree
Melastoma candidum English:  Asian melastome, Indian rhododendron, Malabar melastome Melastomataceae tree
Melastoma sanguineum English:  fox-tongued melastoma, red melastome Melastomataceae shrub/tree
Melicoccus bijugatus English: Spanish lime Sapindaceae tree
Melinis minutiflora English: melinis, molasses grass; French: herbe molasses, herbe à miel; Other: puakatau (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Melinis repens English: Natal redtop, Natal grass, red Natal grass, Holme's grass, blanketgrass; French: herbe du Natal, herbe rose, herbe pappangue; tricholène (New Caledonia); Other: salapona (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Memecylon floribundum     Melastomataceae shrub
Merremia peltata English: merremia; Other: wachathal (yap); lohl, iol, yol (Pohnpei); kebeas (Palau); lagon, lagun (Guam); fitau, fitaw (Chuuk); pala, pul, puhlah (Kosrae); fue, fue vao, fue kula (Niue); fue lautetele (American Samoa and Samoa); fue mea (Tonga); abui, grobihi, arosumou (Solomon Islands); wa mbula, wa bula, wa damu, wa ndamu, viliyawa, wiliviwa, veliyana, wiliao (Fiji); pohue (French Polynesia) Convolvulaceae vine
Miconia calvescens English: miconia, velvetleaf, purple plague, bush currant Melastomataceae tree
Microlaena stipoides English:  meadow ricegrass, weeping grass Poaceae grass
Mikania scandens English:  climbing hempweed, climbing hempvine Asteraceae vine
Mimosa pigra English:  catclaw mimosa, thorny sensitiveplant, giant mimosa, giant sensitive plant, black mimosa, zaraz, dormilona, bashful plant, amourette violet; French: amourette riviére Fabaceae shrub
Montanoa hibiscifolia English: montanoa, tree daisy, Anzac flower Asteraceae shrub
Morella faya English:  fayatree, firetree, firebush Myricaceae tree
Murraya paniculata English:  orange jessamine, satin-wood, Chinese box, Hawaiian mock orange Rutaceae shrub/tree
Myriophyllum aquaticum English: parrot's feather, water feather, Brazilian water milfoil Haloragidaceae aquatic herb
Neonotonia wightii English: glycine; French: soja pérenne Fabaceae vine
Nymphaea spp. English:  water lily Nymphaeaceae herb
Ochna kirkii English: Micky Mouse plant, bird’s-eye bush Ochnaceae shrub/tree
Ochna serrulata English:  ochna, Mickey-Mouse plant, bird’s-eye bush Ochnaceae shrub
Ochroma pyramidale English:  balsa, corkwood, down tree Bombacaceae tree
Ocimum gratissimum English:  wild basil, clove basil, tree basil; French:  basilic, menthe gabonaise; Other:  la’au sauga (Samoa) Lamiaceae herb
Odontonema tubaeforme English: fire spike, cardinal flower Acanthaceae shrub
Olea europaea English:  olive; Other:  ‘oliwa, ‘oliwa haole (Hawai'i) Oleaceae tree
Ossaea marginata   Melastomataceae shrub
Oxyspora paniculata English:  oxyspora, bristletips Melastomataceae shrub
Paederia foetida English:  stink vine, skunk vine; Other: maile pilau, maile ka kahiki (Hawai'i). Rubiaceae vine
Panicum repens English: torpedo grass, couch panicum, creeping panic; French:  panic rampant, millet rampant; Other: wainaku grass (Hawai'i) Poaceae grass
Paraserianthes lophantha English: brush wattle, plume albizia, plume acacia, stink bean Fabaceae shrub/tree
Parkinsonia aculeata English: parkinsonia, Jerusalem thorn, horse-bean, retama; French: arrêtenègre; Spanish: palo verde Fabaceae tree
Parthenium hysterophorus English: bitterweed, carrot grass, false ragweed, feverfew, parthenium weed, ragweed parthenium, whitetop, Santa Maria Asteraceae herb
Paspalum dilatatum English: paspalum, dallis grass, water grass; French:  paspalum dilaté, herbe sirop, herbe de miel, herbe de dallis, millet bâtard; Other: hiku nua (Niue) Poaceae grass
Paspalum fimbriatum English:  fimbriate paspalum, winged paspalum, Panama paspalum, Panama crowngrass, Columbia grass Poaceae grass
Paspalum urvillei English: Vasey grass; French: herbe de Vasey, paspalum d'Urville Poaceae grass
Passiflora alata English:  wild passion fruit, wingstem passionflower Passifloraceae shrub
Passiflora caerulea English:  blue passion flower Passifloraceae shrub
Passiflora coccinea English:  scarlet passion flower, red passion flower, red granadilla Passifloraceae shrub
Passiflora edulis English: passion fruit, yellow passion fruit, purple passion fruit, qarandila, purple granadilla; French: grenadille; Spanish: maracuya (Galapagos Is.); Other:  liliko‘i (Hawai‘i), pompom (Pohnpei); pasio (Samoa); vaine (Tonga) Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora laurifolia English:  yellow granadilla, belle apple, yellow water-lemon; French: pomme-liane, pomme d'or; Other:  pasio (Samoa); vaine 'ae kuma (Tonga) Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora ligularis English: sweet granadilla, yellow passionfruit; French: granadille, grenadille douce, barbadine; French: granadille, grenadille douce, barbadine; Other: lemi wai, lani wai, lemona (Hawai‘i) Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora maliformis English:  hard-shelled passionfruit, sweet calabash, sweet cup; French: pomme calabas; Other:  pasio (Samoa), vaine Tonga, vaine kai (Tonga) Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora pulchella English:  two-lobed passion flower, wingleaf passionfruit Passifloraceae shrub
Passiflora quadrangularis English:  granadilla, giant granadilla; French: barbadine; Spanish:  badea (Galapagos Is.); Other: parapotina maata (Cook Islands); para pautini (French Polynesia); palasini, palatini, vine fua lalahi, vine palasini, tinitini (Niue); kudamono (Palau); pasio (Samoa); pasione (Tonga) Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora rubra English: red passionfruit, Dutchman's laudanum Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora tarminiana English: banana poka, banana passionfruit, bananadilla Passifloraceae vine
Paulownia tomentosa English:  paulownia, princess-tree, Chinese empress tree, karri-tree Scrophulariaceae tree
Pennisetum clandestinum English: kikuyu grass, kikuyo Poaceae grass
Pennisetum setaceum English: fountain grass Poaceae grass
Philadelphus karwinskyanus English: philadelphus, evergreen mock orange, syringa Saxifragaceae shrub
Phormium tenax English: New Zealand flax, New Zealand hemp, bush flax Agavaceae herb
Phyllostachys nigra English:  black bamboo; French: bambou noir Poaceae shrub
Pimenta dioica English: pimento, allspice; Other:  sipaisi (Tonga) Myrtaceae tree
Pimenta racemosa English:  bay tree, bay rum tree, bay oil tree, malagueta; Other:  sinamoni (Tonga) Myrtaceae tree
Pinus caribaea English:  Caribbean pine, Bahamas pine; Other:  paina (Samoa), paini (Tonga) Pinaceae tree
Piper aduncum English: spiked pepper; Other: yaqona ni Onolulu, yanggona ni Onolulu (Fiji) Piperaceae tree
Piper auritum English: eared pepper, anise piper, Veracruz pepper; Spanish: hoja santa, anisillo, hinojo, sabalero, hoja de la estrella; Other: Hawaiian sakau, false sakau, false kava (Pohnpei) Piperaceae shrub
Pittosporum pentandrum English:  pittosporum, Taiwanese cheesewood, mamalis Pittosporaceae shrub/tree
Pittosporum tobira English:  tobira, Japanese pittosporum, Japanese cheesewood, mock orange, Australian laurel Pittosporaceae shrub/tree
Pittosporum undulatum English:  Victorian box, Victorian laurel, Australian cheesewood, mock orange, sweet pittosporum, orange pittosporum Pittosporaceae tree
Pittosporup viridiflorum English:  cape pittosporum Pittosporaceae tree
Platycerium bifurcatum English:  elkhorn fern, staghorn fern Selaginellaceae fern
Plectranthus amboinicus English: Mexican mint, Spanish thyme, Cuban oregano; French: oreille; Other:  rhaivoki, sage (Fiji); pasiole (Niue, Tonga); la‘au tai‘e, lau tai‘e, militini (Samoa); kaloni (Tonga) Lamiaceae herb
Pluchea carolinensis English: sour bush Asteraceae shrub
Pluchea indica English:  Indian fleabane, Indian pluchea, Indian camphorweed Asteraceae shrub
Praxelis clematidea English: praxelis Asteraceae herb
Prosopis spp. English: mesquite, algaroba; Spanish:  algarrobo Fabaceae tree
Psidium cattleianum English: strawberry guava, cherry guava, Cattley guava, Chinese guava; French: goyavier de Chine; Other:  kuahpa (Pohnpei); waiawi ‘ula‘ula (Hawai'i); ngguava (Fiji), tuava tinito (French Polynesia); kua‘va (Samoa) Myrtaceae tree
Psidium guineense English:  Brazilian guava, Guinea guava; French: goyavier du Brésil Myrtaceae shrub/tree
Pueraria montana var. lobata English:  kudzu, Japanese arrowroot; Other:  deday (Yap); aka (American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Wallis and Futuna); a'a (American Samoa and Samoa); yaka , wa yaka, nggariaka (Fiji); akataha, fue’aepuaka (Tonga); acha, nepalem Fabaceae vine
Pueraria phaseoloides English: tropical kudzu, puero Fabaceae vine
Pyrostegia venusta English: flame vine, flame flower, golden shower, orange trumpet vine Bignoniaceae vine
Quisqualis indica English:  Rangoon creeper Combretaceae vine
Ravenala madagascariensis English:  traveler’s palm, traveler’s tree, ravenale; French: arbre à voyageur Strelitziaceae tree
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa English: rose myrtle, downy myrtle, Isenberg bush Myrtaceae shrub
Rhynchospora caduca   Cyperaceae herb
Rivina humilis English: baby pepper, bloodberry, coral berry, rouge plant; Other:  polo (Tonga) Phytolaccaceae herb
Rubus alceifolius English: giant bramble Rosaceae shrub
Rubus moluccanus English:  Molucca raspberry, broad leafed bramble, Molucca bramble, eelkek; French:  piquant lou-lou (Mauritius); Other:  kohkihl (Kosrae); soni, wa sori, wa ngandrongandro, wa votovotoa, (Fiji) Rosaceae shrub
Rubus rosifolius English: roseleaf raspberry, thimbleberry, Mauritius raspberry; French: framboisier; Other: ola'a, ‘akala, akalakala (Hawai'i) Rosaceae shrub
Rubus spp. English: raspberries, blackberries, brambles Rosaceae shrub
Ruellia brevifolia   Acanthaceae herb
Ruellia prostrata English:  black weed, bell weed; Other:  vao uli, vao uliuli (Samoa) Acanthaceae herb
Sacciolepis indica English: glenwood grass Poaceae grass
Salvinia molesta English:  salvinia, water fern, kariba weed, African payal Salviniaceae fern
Sambucus mexicana English: elderberry, Mexican elder Caprifoliaceae small tree
Sanchezia speciosa English: sanchezia. Acanthaceae shrub
Sanchezia parvibracteata English: sanchezia Acanthaceae shrub
Schefflera actinophylla English: octopus tree, umbrella tree, ivy palm; French: arbre ombelle Araliaceae tree
Schefflera arboricola English:  dwarf brassia, dwarf schefflera, Hawaiian elf schefflera Araliaceae shrub
Schinus molle English:  pepper tree, California pepper tree, Peruvian peppertree, pepperina; French: faux poivrier, molée des jardins, poivrier d'Amérique Anacardiaceae tree
Schinus terebinthifolius English: Christmas-berry, Brazilian pepper, Brazilian holly, Florida holly; French: faux poivrier, poivre rose; Other:  warui (Fiji); wilelaiki (Hawai‘i), naniohilo (Hawai‘i (Moloka‘i)) Anacardiaceae tree
Schizachyrium condensatum English: little bluestem, bush beardgrass Poaceae grass
Senecio madagascariensis English: fireweed Asteraceae herb
Senna obtusifolia English: habucha, coffeeweed, sicklepod Fabaceae herb
Senna septemtrionalis English:  buttercup bush, yellow shower, laburnum; Other:  mosimosi, naseni karakarawa, winivinikau (Fiji); kolomona, kalamona (Hawai'i) Fabaceae shrub/tree
Senna siamea English:  cassod tree, kassod tree, Siamese cassia; French: bois perdrix; Other:  kasia (Tonga) Fabaceae tree
Senna tora English: foetid cassia, stinking cassia, Java-bean, sickle senna, sicklepod, Chinese senna, peanut weed, sickle senna; French:  cassier sauvage, pois puant, séné; Other: kaumoce, kaumothe, pini, tarota (Fiji); mumutun admelon, mumutun palaoan, amot-tumaga carabao (Guam), vao pinati (Samoa); te’epulu, tengafefeka (Tonga) Fabaceae shrub
Sesbania grandiflora English:  hummingbird tree, sesban, scarlet wisteria tree; French:  agati a grandes fleurs; Other:  agati, agathi (Fiji); oufai, ofai, ouai (French Polynesia); katurai (Guam); sepania (Samoa) Fabaceae small tree
Sesbania punicea English:  red sesbania, coffee weed, rattle-pod, sesban, red seine bean, Brazil rattlebox, coffee of the coast, tame acacia, false poinciana, black acacia, purple sesbane Fabaceae shrub
Setaria palmifolia English: palmgrass, short pitpit, hailans pitpit, broadleaved bristlegrass; Other:  vao ‘ofe‘ofe (Samoa) Poaceae grass
Setaria pumila English: foxtail, garden bristle grass, yellow bristlegrass, Queensland pigeon grass (Australia), cat's tail grass (Fiji); French: sétaire glauque Poaceae grass
Solandra maxima English:  golden cup, cup of gold, chalice vine; Spanish: copa de oro Solanaceae liana
Solanum capsicoides English:  cockroach berry, devil’s apple, soda apple; Other:  kikania kei, akaaka, akaka (Hawai'i) Solanaceae herb
Solanum mauritianum English: bugweed, wild tobacco, tree tobacco; Other: pua nana honua (Hawai'i), pula (Tonga) Solanaceae shrub
Solanum seaforthianum English: potato creeper, Brazilian nightshade Solanaceae vine
Solanum tampicense English: wetland nightshade, aquatic soda apple Solanaceae aquatic herb
Solanum torvum English: prickly solanum, devil's fig, turkeyberry, terongan; French: fausse aubergine, aubergine sauvage épineuse; Other: piko (Vanuatu); tisaipale (Tonga); kausoni, soni, kauvoto-votua, kaisurisuri, katai, bhankatiya, soni ni vavalagi (Fiji) Solanaceae shrub
Solanum viarum English: tropical soda apple Solanaceae herb?
Spathodea campanulata English: African tulip tree, fireball, fountain tree; French: tulipier du Gabon, pisse-pisse; Spanish: tulipan africano; Other:  apär (CNMI); rarningobchey (Yap); orsachel kui (Palau); tuhke dulip (Pohnpei); tiulipe (Tonga), taga mimi (Fiji) Bignoniaceae tree
Sporobolus elongatus English:  wiregrass, rat-tail dropseed Poaceae grass
Stapelia gigantea English: carrion flower, starfish flower, zulu-giant, giant toad plant Asclepiadaceae succulent
Stylosanthes guianensis English:  stylo, Brazilian lucerne, tropical lucerne, Nigerian stylo Fabaceae herb
Syncarpia glomulifera English: turpentine tree, lustre wood Myrtaceae tree
Syzygium cumini English: Java plum; jambolan plum; French: faux-pistachier, jamelon-guier, jamélongue, jambolanier; Other: duhat (Guam); mesegerak, mesekerrak, mesekerrák, mesigerak (Palau); jamelonguier (New Caledonia); kavika ni India, jammun (Fiji) Myrtaceae tree
Syzygium jambos English:  malabar plum, rose apple, Malay apple; French:  jambosier, pommier rose; Spanish: pomarrosa; Other: kavika, kavika ni vavalangi, kavika ni India (Fiji), ahi‘a popa‘a (French Polynesia), ‘ohi‘a loke (Hawai‘i); iouen wai, youenwai, apel en wai (Pohnpei); seasea papalagi (Samoa); fekika papalangi (Tonga) Myrtaceae tree
Terminalia myriocarpa English: hollock, jhalna Combretaceae tree
Tetrazygia bicolor English:  Florida clover ash Melastomataceae shrub/tree
Thunbergia alata English: black-eyed susan vine; French: suzanne aux yeux noirs; Other: tagamimi (Samoa) Acanthaceae vine
Thunbergia fragrans English:  white lady, white thunbergia, sweet clock-vine; Other:  fue hina (Tonga) Acanthaceae vine
Thunbergia grandiflora English: Bengal trumpet, blue trumpet vine, clock vine, skyvine, large-flowerd thunbergia; Other: bung el etiu (Palau) Acanthaceae vine
Thunbergia laurifolia English: purple allamanda, laurel-leaved thunbergia, laurel clock vine Acanthaceae vine
Tibouchina herbacea English: glorybush, cane ti, tibouchina Melastomataceae herb
Tibouchina urvilleana English: glorybush, lasiandra, princess flower Melastomataceae herb
Tillandsia usneoides English: Spanish moss, old man's beard, grandfather’s whiskers, air plant; French: cheveaux du roi, barbe grise, fille de l'air Bromeliaceae bromeliad
Timonius timon English: liberal (Palau); Other: sakosia (from Ecoport, no source given) Rubiaceae tree
Tithonia diversifolia English:  tree marigold, shrub sunflower, Mexican sunflower, Japanese sunflower; Other:  matala (Niue) Asteraceae shrub
Toona ciliata English:  Australian red cedar, toon; Other:  tuna (Samoa), sita kula (Tonga) Meliaceae tree
Tradescantia zebrina English:  wandering zebrina, wandering jew, inchplant Commelinaceae herb
Triadica sebifera English:  Chinese tallow tree, popcorn tree, vegetable tallow, white wax berry, chicken tree, Florida aspen; French: arbre à suif, boiré Euphorbiaceae tree
Tribulus cistoides English: puncture vine, caltrop, burrnut, Jamaican feverplant, goat’s head; Spanish: cacho de chivo; Other: nohu, nohunohu (Hawai‘i); te maukinikini (Kiribati) Zygophyllaceae herb
Tribulus terrestris English:  puncture vine, goat head; French: tribule terrestre Zygophyllaceae herb
Triplaris weigeltiana English: long john, long jack Polygonaceae tree
Tripsacum latifolium English: wideleaf gamagrass Poaceae grass
Triumfetta rhomboidea English: Chinese burr, paroquet burr, burr bush; Other:  dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam); mo‘osipo (Tonga); mosipo (Niue); manutofu, mautofu, mautofu vao (American Samoa and Samoa); qatima (Fiji), urio (French Polynesia) Tiliaceae shrub
Turbina corymbosa English:  turbina, Christmas vine, ololiuqui Convolvulaceae vine
Turnera ulmifolia English: yellow alder, sage rose, West Indian holly, ramgoat dashalong; Other: nõr in jiboñ (Marshall Islands) Turneraceae herb
Ulex europaeus English: gorse, furze, whin; French: ajonc, bois jonc, jonc marin, vigneau Fabaceae shrub
Urena lobata English: hibiscus burr, aramina, caesarweed, pink Chinese burr, urena burr, bur mallow; French: jute africain, cousin urène; Other: dadangsi, dadangsi apaka, dadangsi machingat, dádangse (Guam); chosuched e kui, osuched a rechui (Palau); karap, korop (Pohnpei); nognuk, ocher (Chuuk); motipo, mosipo (Niue); mautofu, manutofu (American Samoa and Samoa); qatima, gataya, nggatima (Fiji); mo'osipo Tonga (Tonga), piripiri (French Polynesia) Malvaceae shrub
Urochloa mutica English:  California grass, para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius grass, signal grass; French: herbe de Para; Other:  puakatau (Tonga) (Swarbrick, 1997) Poaceae grass
Urochloa subquadripara English:  brachiaria, green summer grass, tropical signalgrass, cori grass Poaceae grass
Vitex parviflora English: small-leaved vitex, smallflower chastetree; Other: lagundi (Guam); molauin, molave (Philippines); molave (Hawai'i) Verbenaceae shrub/tree
Waterhousea floribunda English: weeping lilly pilly, weeping myrtle Myrtaceae tree
Zantedeschia aethiopica English:  calla lily, arum lily Araceae herb
Ziziphus mauritiana English: Indian jujube, Chinese date, Chinee apple; Other: manzanas, manzanita, jujube (Guam); baer, bahir, baher (Fiji) Rhamnaceae tree

NOTE: The common names in this and the following tables are from the PIER data base and web site and include names in use at various locations throughout the Pacific. Additional information, including the locations where the various names are used, can be found in the individual species summaries at the PIER web site, http://www.hear.org/pier/, or on the PIER CD.

Table 2. Introduced species that are invasive elsewhere and are also invasive or potentially invasive on Rota

Scientific Name Common Names Family Habit
Adenanthera pavonina English: Coral bean tree, red sandalwood tree, red bead tree, lopa, bead tree, false wiliwili, peacock flower-fence; French: bois de condori; Other:  kaikes (Pohnpei); mwetkwem (Kosrae); colales, culalis, kolales, kulales, kulalis (Guam, CNMI); metekam, metkam, metkem, (Kosrae); telengtúngd, telentundalel (Palau); pomea (Fiji, Niue), lera, lere ndamu, vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi (Fiji), lopa, la‘au lopa (American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga); paina, pitipitio (French Polynesia) Fabaceae tree
Antigonon leptopus English:  Mexican creeper, mountain rose, Confederate vine, chain-of-love, hearts on a chain, love-vine, coral bells, coral vine, queen’s jewels, kadena de amor, corallita; Other: dilngau (Palau); rohsapoak (Pohnpei) Polygonaceae vine
Chromolaena odorata English:  Siam weed, triffid weed, bitter bush, Jack in the bush; French:  herbe du Laos; Other:  kesengesil, masigsig (Guam); otuot (Chuuk), ngesngesil (Palau); wisolmatenrehwei (Pohnpei); mahsrihsrihk (Kosrae); hagonoy, agonoi, huluhagonoi (Philippines) Asteraceae herb
Clerodendrum quadriloculare English: bronze-leaved clerodendrum; Other: tirooj in belle (Marshall Islands); kleuang (Palau); tuhkehn palau (Pohnpei), bagauac (Philippines) Verbenaceae shrub
Leucaena leucocephala English:  leucaena, wild tamarind, lead tree; French: graines de lin, faux-acacia, faux mimosa (New Caledonia); Other:  koa haole, lili-koa, ekoa (Hawai'i); tangantangan, tangan-tangan, talantayan (Guam, CNMI, Marshall Islands); talntangan (CNMI); ganitnityuwan tangantan (Yap); tuhngantuhngan, rohbohtin (Kosrae); telentund (Palau); lopa Samoa (American Samoa and Samoa); fua pepe (American Samoa and Samoa); lusina (Samoa); pepe (Niue and Samoa); tavahi kaku (Niue); nito, toromiro (Cook Islands); siale mohemohe (Tonga); vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai dina, balori (Fiji); atiku (Marquesas); cassis (Vanuatu); te kaitetua (Kiribati); namas (from Ecoport, source not given) Fabaceae tree
Mikania micrantha English:  mile-a-minute weed, Chinese creeper, American rope, bittervine; French: liane américaine, liane-serpent; Other: fue saina (American Samoa, Samoa and Niue); fou laina (Niue), teb ‘l yas (Palau); wa mbosuthu, wa mbosuvu, wa mbutako, wa ndamele, ovaova, wa bosucu, usuvanua (Fiji); kwalo koburu, (from Ecoport, no source given) Asteraceae vine
Mimosa diplotricha English: giant sensitive plant, nila grass; French: grande sensitive, sensitive gèante; Other: singbiguin sasa (Saipan); mechiuaiuu (Palau); limemeihr laud (Pohnpei); vao fefe palagi (American Samoa and Samoa), la'au fefe tele, la'au fefe palagi (Samoa); wa ngandrongandro levu, wa ngandrongandro ni wa ngalelevu, co gadrogadro (Fiji) Fabaceae shrub
Mucuna pruriens English: cow itch, velvet bean, Bengal bean, Mauritius bean; French: pois pouilleux, poil à gratter; Other: akangkang dangkulo (Guam) Fabaceae vine
Panicum maximum English: Guinea grass, green panic, buffalograss; French: herbe de Guinéa, panic élevé, capime guiné, fataque; Other: saafa (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Syngonium angustatum English:  arrowhead plant, goosefoot plant Araceae vine

Table 3. Species that are reported as invasive or weedy elsewhere and are common or weedy on Rota

Scientific Name Common Names Family Habit
Acacia auriculiformis English:  Papuan wattle, auri, earleaf acacia, northern black wattle, ear-pod wattle; Other: tuhkehn pwelmwahu (Pohnpei) Fabaceae tree
Acacia confusa English: Formosa koa, Formosa acacia; Other: sosigi, shoshigi, sosugi, boiffuring (Guam and CNMI–Chamorro); serepa, soschghi (CNMI–Carolinian); pilampwoia (Pohnpei); ianángi, yanangi (Palau) Fabaceae tree
Agave sisalana English:  sisal, sisal hemp; Other:  ndali, natali (Fiji); Other:  ndali, natali (Fiji), malina (Hawai'i) Agavaceae herb
Albizia lebbeck English:  siris-tree, rain tree, East Indian walnut, kokko, woman's-tongue tree, soros-tree, raom tree ; French:  bois noir; Other:  trongkon-mames, tronkon mames, mamis (Guam); kalaskas, trongkon-kalaskas (CNMI–Chamorro); schepil kalaskas (CNMI–Carolinian); ukall ra ngebard (Palau); gumorningabchey; ngumorrningobchey (Yap); 'ohai (Hawai'i); vaivai, vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai ni vavalagi (Fiji); tamaligi pa’epa’e (Samoa); kasia (Tonga) Fabaceae tree
Alpinia purpurata English:  red ginger; Other:  thevunga (Fiji); ‘awapuhi ‘ula‘ula (Hawai‘i); teuila (Samoa); tevunga (Tonga) Zingiberaceae herb
Annona muricata English: soursop, prickly custard apple; French:  corossolier, cacheimantier épineux, cachiman épineux, corossol épineux; Other: saasaf, sasaf (Chuuk); tapotapo papaa (French Polynesia); laguana, laguaná, laguanaha, laguanaba, labuanaha (Guam); sosap (Kosrae); jojaab (Marshall Islands); syasyap (Northern Mariana Islands), talapo fotofoto (Niue), sausab (Palau); sei, sae, truka shai (Pohnpei); sasalapa (Samoa); ‘apele ‘initia (Tonga); sausau (Yap) Annonaceae tree
Asparagus setaceus English: ornamental asparagus, climbing asparagus fern, plumosa; French: asperge plumeuse; Other:  taupo ‘ou (Tonga) Liliaceae vine
Asystasia gangetica English: Chinese violet, Philippine violet, coromandel Acanthaceae herb
Bambusa spp. English: bamboo; French: bambou; Other: moor (Yap); iich (Chuuk); pehri en sapahn (Pohnpei); bambuu (Palau); bambu (Kosrae); pi‘ao, pi‘ao palaoan (Guam and Northern Marianas-Chamorro); bwai (Guam and Northern Marianas-Carolinian); bae, koba (Marshall Islands); kaho palangi (Niue); ‘ohe (French Polynesia); ofe (French Polynesia, Samoa), ‘ofe fiti, ‘ofe papalagi (Samoa); kofe, pitu (Tonga); koe (Rarotonga, Cook Islands) Poaceae tree
Bauhinia monandra English:  orchid-tree, St. Thomas-tree, Napoleon's plume; flamboyant (Pohnpei), flores mariposa (CNMI); mariposa (Guam); pink butterfly tree (Fiji); Other:  pine fua loloa (Niue), vae povi (American Samoa and Samoa) Fabaceae tree
Blechum pyramidata English: green shrimp plant, blackweed (Samoa), Browne’s blechum; Other:  yerbas babui (Guam), vao uliuli (Samoa) Acanthaceae herb
Bothriochloa bladhii English:  blue grass, Australian beardgrass, Caucasian bluestem; Other:  desum (Palau); latoka grass, thamboni grass (Fiji) Poaceae grass
Bryophyllum pinnatum English:  life plant, air plant, resurrection plant, Canterbury bells, cathedral bells, Mexican love plant; Spanish: hoja del aire; Other: bulatawamudu (Fiji); ‘oliwa ku kahakai (Hawai'i); teang (Kiribati); kibilia (Marshall Islands); tupu he lau, tupu noa (Niue); pipi vao (Tonga) Crassulaceae herb
Calopogonium mucunoides English: calopo; Other: akankan-guakag (Guam) Fabaceae vine
Cananga odorata English: perfume tree; French: canang odorant; Other: ilang-ilang, alang-ilang (Guam, Philippines); ylang-ylang, lengileng (CNMI); chiráng, irang (Palau); ilanlang, ilahnglahng (Kosrae); pwanang, pwuur, pwalang (Chuuk); pur-n-wai, pwurenwai, sair-n-wai, seirin wai, seir en wai (Pohnpei); ilanilan, ilañlañ (Marshall Islands); motoi (Niue); makasoi, makosoi, makusui, mokohoi, mokosoi (Fiji); moso‘oi (American Samoa and Samoa); mohoki, mohokoi, mohokoi (Tonga); moto‘oi, mata‘oi (Cook Islands, Niue, Tahiti); moto‘i (Tahiti); lanalana (Hawai‘i) Annonaceae tree
Cardiospermum halicacabum English:  balloon vine, heart pea, love-in-a-puff; Other:  wa niu, vo niu (Fiji); vinivinio (French Polynesia), poniu, haleakai‘a, ‘inalua, pohuehue uka (Hawai'i) Sapindaceae vine
Ceiba pentandra English: kapok, kapok tree, silk-cotton tree, pacae; French:  kapokier, capoc, bois coton; Spanish: ceibo; Other: koton (Chuuk); algodon de Manila, atgodon di Manila, algidon, atgidon de Manila (Guam); koatoa, atagodon, arughuschel (Saipan), batte ni gan' ken (Yap); bulik, kotin (Marshall Islands); cottin, koatun, koatoa (Pohnpei); kuhtin, cutin (Kosrae); kalngebard, kalngebárd, kerrekar ngebard (Palau); vauvau ni vavalangi, semar (Fiji); vavae (American Samoa, Samoa, Niue, Tonga); vavau ni lokoloko (from Ecoport, source not given) Bombacaceae tree
Cenchrus brownii English:  burgrass, burr grass, sand-bur, slimbristle sandbur Poaceae grass
Cenchrus echinatus English:  burgrass, sand-bur, southern sandbur, Mossman River grass (Australia); French:  herbe a cateaux (Mauritius); Other: tuitui, vao tuitui, vao papalagi (American Samoa and Samoa); se mbulabula (Fiji); piri-piri, pipiri (French Polynesia); mau‘u kuku, ‘ume‘alu (Hawai'i); te anti, te kateketeke (Kiribati); cram-cram (New Caledonia); motie vihilago, mosie vihilango (Niue); lõklõk, kãlõklõk, lellik, lekelik, liklik, karmwijmwij, karumwij (Marshall Islands); cauit-cauitan (Philippines); hefa (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Centrosema pubescens English:  centro, butterfly-pea; French: fleur-languette, pois bâtard; Other:  pi ni ndola (Fiji) Fabaceae herb
Chamaecrista nictitans English: partridge pea, Japanese tea senna; Other:  lauki (Hawai‘i); kobo-cha, nemu-cha (Japan) Fabaceae shrub
Chloris barbata English: swollen fingergrass, purpletop chloris (Australia), airport grass (Fiji); Other: mau’u lei (Hawai'i) Poaceae grass
Chloris radiata English: plush-grass, radiate fingergrass Poaceae grass
Clerodendrum buchananii var. fallax English:  red clerodendrum, pagoda-flower; Other:  talufe (Niue); amo’ula, amo’ule (Tonga), lau'awa (Hawai'i) Verbenaceae shrub
Clitoria ternatea English:  butterfly pea, Asian pigeonwings; French: honte; Other:  buikike, bukike, paokeke, bukike paokeke, capa de la reina, kapa de la raina (Guam); putitainubia (CNMI); pepe (Niue); latoela, nawa (Fiji), paipa (Tonga) Fabaceae vine
Coffea arabica English: coffee; French: café, caféier d’ Arabie; Spanish: café, cafeto; Other:  kove (Fiji); kofe (Fiji, Niue, Samoa), kofi (Tonga); kafe (Marquesas); taofe (Tahiti) Rubiaceae tree
Cynodon dactylon English: Bermuda grass, giant Bermuda grass, bahama grass, devil's grass, couch grass, Indian doab, grama, devilgrass, couchgrass, balama grass; French: chiendent, petit chiendent, chiendent pied-de-poule; Other: manini, manienie (Hawai'i); motie molulu (Niue); kambuta, kabuta (Fiji); mosie molulu (Niue); herbe de couverture (New Caledonia); pasto bermuda, zacate bermuda, grama dulce, gramón, hierba fina, grama-seda, (from Ecoport, no source given) Poaceae grass
Cyperus rotundus English: nut grass, nutsedge, purple nutsedge, cocograss; French: souchet rond, souchet à tubercules, herbe à oignon; Other: oni ani (Cook Islands); soro na kambani, sora na kambani, soro ni kabani, ivako, malanga, vucesa, motha, vuthesa mot ha (Fiji); chaguan humatag (Guam); kili'o'opu, mau‘u mokae (Hawai‘i); te mumute (Kiribati); tuteoneon (Marshall Islands); mumuta (Samoa, Tokelau); pakopako (Tonga) Cyperaceae sedge
Delonix regia English: flame tree, flamboyant, poinciana; Spanish: flamboyan; Other: ngatipa, avarua (Rarotonga, Cook Islands); fayarbaw (CNMI–Carolinian); sekoula (Fiji); puke (Tahiti, French Polynesia); arbol del fuego, atbot, atbot det fuegu, atbut (Guam and CNMI–Chamorro); ‘ohai ‘ula (Hawai'i); pine (Niue); nangiosákura, nangyo (Palau); pilampwoia weitahta (Pohnpei); ‘ohai (Tonga); sakuranirow (Yap) Fabaceae tree
Derris elliptica English: derris; Other: tuba, bagin (Guam); oop, op (Kosrae); dub (Palau); up (Chuuk, Pohnpei); peinuhp, uhp, upanai, upanyap, upkesetik (Pohnpei); yuub (Yap); nduva, duva ni vavalagi, nduva ni vavalangi (Fiji) Fabaceae vine
Desmanthus virgatus Other: anil, jureminha (Brazil) Fabaceae herb
Digitaria ciliaris English:  Henry's crabgrass, smooth crabgrass, tropical crab grass, large crab grass, southern crabgrass, fingergrass, summer grass; French: digitaire ciliée; Other:  kukaepua'a (Hawai'i); Saulangi (Niue) Poaceae grass
Duranta erecta English:  duranta, golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry, sky-flower; Other:  ‘olive (Tonga) Verbenaceae shrub
Eichhornia crassipes English: water hyacinth; French: jacinthe d'eau; Other: bung el ralm (Palau); mbekambekairanga, ndambendambe ni nga, jal khumbe, bekabekairaga, dabedabe ne ga, jal khumbe (Fiji); riri vai (Cook Islands) Pontederiaceae aquatic herb
Eleusine indica English: goosegrass, wiregrass, goose foot, crow's foot, bullgrass; French: pied de poule; Other: fahitalo, lau ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a (American Samoa and Samoa); kavoronaisivi, vorovoroisivi, ghoraya (Fiji); tamamau (French Polynesia), umog (Guam); manienie ali‘i (Hawai'i); mahkwekwe (Kosrae); katejukjuk (Marshall Islands); mosie fahitalo (Niue); deskim, keteketarmalk (Palau); reh takai (Pohnpei); takataka, takataka ‘a leala, mohuku siamane (Tonga); te uteute (from Ecoport, source not given) Poaceae grass
Ficus microcarpa English:  Chinese banyan, Malayan banyan, Indian laurel; Other: lulk (Palau); nunu (Chamorro, CNMI) Moraceae tree
Hippobroma longiflora English:  star of Bethlehem, fetia, madamfate; Other:  pua hoku (Hawai'i) Campanulaceae herb
Hyptis capitata English: knobweed; Other: botones, batunes (Guam); t'aiegarabao, pathpath (Yap), maa uupo (French Polynesia) Lamiaceae herb
Hyptis pectinata English:  comb hyptis, comb bushmint, mint weed, purple top; French:  fausse menthe; Other:  mumutun lahe, mumutun palaoan, mumutan ademelon (Guam); tamole ni veikau, tamoli ni vavalangi, timothi ni vavalangi, wavuwavu, ndamoli, ben tulsia (Fiji) Lamiaceae herb
Ipomoea aquatica English:  aquatic morning glory, swamp cabbage, water spinach, ung-choi, kang kong; French: liseron d'eau, patate aquatique; Other: ota karisa, ota karisi, wa kumala, ndrinikava, luve ne tombithi (Fiji), cancon, kangkun (Guam); te kang kong (Kiribati); lorenzo (Nauru), ‘umala vai (Samoa); kangkong (Yap) Convolvulaceae aquatic herb
Jatropha curcas English:  physic nut, purging nut, Barbados nut; French: médicinier, pignon d'Inde, purghère; Other:  wiriwiri, wiriwiri ni vavalangi, uto ni vavalangi, banidakai, mbanindakai, manggele, maqele, ndrala (Fiji); fiki (Fiji, Tonga); tuba-tuba (Guam); kuku‘ihi (Hawai‘i), kuikui Pake (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau), laupata (Samoa) Euphorbiaceae shrub
Kyllinga brevifolia English: green kyllinga, green water sedge; Other: kili‘o‘opu, kaluha, manunene, mau‘u mokae (Hawai‘i); tuise (Samoa); pakopako (Tonga) Cyperaceae sedge
Kyllinga nemoralis English: white kyllinga, whitehead spikesedge, whitewater sedge; Other:  kili‘o‘opu (Hawai‘i), ta‘a ta‘a, ta‘a ta‘a vili taliga, matie upo‘o, matie tahiti, mo‘u upo‘onui, mo‘u upo‘o, tuise (Samoa); pakopako, pakopako ‘ae kuma (Tahiti); tuise (Tonga) Cyperaceae sedge
Lablab purpureus English:  hyacinth bean, lablab, bonavist, Egyptian kidney bean, dolichos; French: dolique, dolique d'Egypte, pois nourrice; Other:  ndralawa, natomba, tomba (Fiji); cheribilla apaka, chuchumeko (Guam); papapa, pi (Hawai'i); pini lae puaka (Tonga) Fabaceae vine
Melia azedarach English:  Chinaberry, pride-of-India, indian lilac, Persian lilac, white cedar, margosa tree, tira; French:  lilas des Indes, arbre à chapelets; Spanish: jazmin (Galapagos Is.); Other: dake, bakain (Fiji), paraiso, para'isu (Guam); ‘inia, ‘ilinia (Hawai‘i)sili, tili (Niue); lelah (Pohnpei); sita (Tonga); prais (Yap) Meliaceae tree
Merremia tuberosa English:  wood rose, Spanish arborvine, yellow morning-glory; French: liane-à-tonelle, liane-jaune; Other:  pilikai (Hawai'i) Convolvulaceae vine
Mimosa pudica English: sensitive plant, sleeping grass; French: sensitive; Other: la‘au fefe, vao fefe, vao tuitui, tuitui (American Samoa and Samoa); ra kau pikikaa, rakau pikika (Cook Islands); tho ngandrongandro, tho kandrodandro, cogadrogadro (Fiji); betguen sosa (Guam); pua hilahila (Hawai‘i); memege (Niue); mechiuaiu (Palau); limemeihr (Pohnpei); pohe ha‘avare, pope ha‘avare (Tahiti); mateloi (Tonga) Fabaceae herb
Momordica charantia English: balsam-apple, bitter-melon, bitter gourd, balsam pear, squirting cucumber, cerasee, peria; French: momordique, margose (Réunion, Mauritius Islands), margose amère, momordique amère, concombre amer, concombre africain; Spanish: achoccha silvestre; Other: almagosa, atmagosu (Guam); atmagoso (Guam, CNMI); markoso (Palau); kerala (Fiji); meleni 'ae kuma, vaine 'initia (Tonga) Cucurbitaceae vine
Moringa oleifera English:  horseradish tree, drumstick tree, ben nut, morango; French: ben ailée, moringa ailée, pois quénique; Other: malungkai, marronggai, marungai, marunggai, malungay, katdes (Guam); sajina (Fiji) Moringaceae tree
Muntingia calabura English:  jam tree, strawberry tree, Jamaican cherry, Singapore cherry, Panama cherry, Panama berry, ornamental cherry, calabura, sirsen; French: bois ramier; Other:  budo (Yap, Palau); manzanilla, mansanita, manzanita (Guam, CNMI), capulin (Fiji, French Polynesia) Tiliaceae tree
Operculina ventricosa English: paper rose, St. Thomas lidpod; Other: alalag (Guam); palulu (Samoa); fue hina (Tonga) Convolvulaceae vine
Paspalum conjugatum English: T grass, ti grass, sour grass; sour palpalum, buffalo grass, carabao grass, Hilo grass (Hawai'i); French: herbe sure, herbe créole; herbe de tauère (New Caledonia); Other: fetin wumwune (Chuuk); mau‘u Hilo (Hawai‘i), muhsrasre (Kosrae); moise vailima, motie vailima (Niue and Tonga); udel ra ngebei (Palau); rehn wai (Pohnpei); vao lima (American Samoa and Samoa), vailima matafao (Samoa); vailima, (Samoa, Tonga, Niue) Poaceae grass
Paspalum paniculatum English: Russell river grass, galmarra grass Poaceae grass
Paspalum scrobiculatum English:  rice grass; ditch millet (Fiji); Other:  co duru levu, tho nduru levu, tho ndina, tho ni ndina (Fiji); karasi (Solomon Islands) Poaceae grass
Passiflora foetida English:  love-in-a-mist, wild passion fruit, passionflower, stinking passionflower; French:  passiflore; Spanish: bedoca (Galapagos Is.); Other: pasio vao (American Samoa and Samoa); bombom (Chuuk), sou, loliloli ni kalavo, qaranidila (Fiji); pohapoha (Hawai‘i); lani wai (Hawai‘i (Ni‘ihau)); tea biku (Kiribati); vine vao (Niue); kudamono (Palau); pompom, pwomwpwomw (Pohnpei); kinahulo‘ atdao, dulce (Saipan); vaine ‘initia (Tonga); tomates (Yap) Passifloraceae vine
Passiflora suberosa English:  wild passionfruit, devil's pumpkin, indigo berry, corky passionflower, corkstem passionflower; French:  passiflore, grenadille; Spanish: uvilla (Galapagos Is.); Other:  huehue haole (Hawai'i) Passifloraceae vine
Pennisetum polystachion English:  mission grass, feathery pennisetum; French:  queue de chat; Other: mechen katu (Chuuk), pwokso, dipw rais (Pohnpei), o tamata (Fiji) Poaceae grass
Pennisetum purpureum English: elephant grass, napier grass, merker grass; French: herbe éléphant, fausse canne à sucre; Spanish: pasto elefante; Other: bokso (Palau); puk-soh (Pohnpei); acfucsracsracsr (Kosrae). Poaceae grass
Persea americana English:  avocado, alligator pear; French: l’avocat; Spanish:  aguacate; Other: apoka (Cook Islands); pea (Fiji); avoka (Niue, Tonga); aviota (Samoa); avota (Samoa and Tahiti); bata (Palau); alageta (Chamorro, Guam) Lauraceae tree
Pistia stratiotes English: water lettuce, tropical duckweed; French: laitue d'eau, pistie; Other: lechuguita de agua, repollo de agua , apon-apon, apoe-apoe, beo-cai, chawk Araceae aquatic herb
Pithecellobium dulce English:  Madras thorn, Manila tamarind; French: pois sucré; Other:  kamachuri (Chuuk); camachili, kamachile, kamachiles, kamachili (Guam); kamachili, kamatire (CNMI Chamorro), ghamasiligh (CNMI-Carolinian); kamatsiri, kamatsíri, opiuma (Palau): 'opiuma (Hawai'i); kataiya (Fiji) Fabaceae tree
Psidium guajava English: guava; French: goyavier; Spanish:  guayaba, guayabo; Other: ku‘ava, ku‘avu, tu‘avu (American Samoa and Samoa); kuafa (Chuuk); kuava (Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa); quwawa, nguava, ngguava ni India, amrut (Fiji); tuava, tumu tuava, tuvava (French Polynesia); abas guayaba (Galapagos); (Guam, Saipan-Chamorro, Yap); kuawa, kuawa ke‘oke‘o, kuawa lemi, kuawa momona, pauwa (Hawai‘i); kuhfahfah (Kosrae); te kuawa (Kiribati); kuwawa (Nauru); kautoga, kautonga, kautoga tane, kautonga tane (Niue); guabang, kuabang (Palau); guahva, kuahpa (Pohnpei); apas (Saipan); abwas (Saipan-Carolinian); tu‘ava (Samoa) Myrtaceae tree
Ricinus communis English: castor bean, castor-oil plant; French: ricin; Spanish: higuerilla; Other: lama palagi, lama papalagi (American Samoa and Samoa); mbele ni vavalagi, toto ni vavalagi, utouto (Fiji); agaliya (Guam); koli, pa‘aila, ka‘apeha, kamakou, la‘au, ‘aila (Hawai‘i); tuitui, tuitui fua ikiiki (Niue); gelug, maskerekur, uluchula skoki (Palau); lepo, lepohina (Tonga) Euphorbiaceae shrub
Samanea saman English: monkeypod, rain tree, saman; French: arbre de pluie; Other: tronkon mames, trongkon-mames (CNMI-Chamorro); filinganga (CNMI-Carolinian); gumor ni spanis (Yap); 'ohai, pu ‘ohai (Hawai'i); vaivai ni vavalangi, vaivai ni vavalagi (Fiji), malapa (Samoa); kasia (Tonga) Fabaceae tree
Sansevieria trifasciata English: bowstring hemp, mother-in-law’s tongue; French: chanvre d'Afrique; Other: tigre (Guam), kitelel (Palau) Agavaceae herb
Senna alata English:  candle bush; candelabra bush, Roman candle tree, emperor's candlesticks, ringworm bush (Australia), alcapulco; French:  epis d’or, bois dartre, dartres; Other: arakak (Chuuk); akapuku, andadose, candalaria, take-biha (Guam); kerula besokel, yult (Palau); rakau honuki, truke-n-kili-n-wai, tuhkehn kilin wai, tirakahonuki (Pohnpei); flay-n-sabouw (Yap); mulamula (Niue); bakau plant (Solomon Islands); mbai ni thangi (Fiji); fa‘i lafa, la‘au fai lafa (American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga); te‘elango (Tonga) Fabaceae shrub
Solenostemon scutellarioides English:  coleus; Other: lata, lau lata (Fiji); weleweka (Hawai‘i); selevese (Niue); koramahd, koaramahd (Pohnpei); pate, patiale, la‘au fai sei (Samoa) Lamiaceae herb
Sorghum halepense English: Johnson grass, Aleppo grass, Aleppo milletgrass; French: sorgho d' Alep, sorgo de Alepo, herbe de Cuba; Other: kola (Tonga); gumai (Russia); zacate Johnson, grama China, cañuela, Don Carlos Poaceae grass
Sphagneticola trilobata English:  wedelia, trailing daisy, Singapore daisy, creeping ox-eye; Other: ngesil ra ngebard (Palau); dihpw ongohng, tuhke ongohng (Pohnpei); rosrangrang (Kosrae); ut mõkadkad, ut telia (Marshall Islands); atiat (Puluwat); ate (Tonga) Asteraceae herb
Sporobolus indicus English: smutgrass, wiregrass, Indian dropseed; Other: fisihina (Tonga) Poaceae grass
Stachytarpheta cayennensis English:  blue rat's tail, dark-blue snakeweed, false verbena, nettleleaf velvetberry; French:  herbe bleue; Other: ouchung, sakura (Chuuk), louch beluu (Palau); mautofu tala, mautofu vao, matofu fualanumanoa (American Samoa and Samoa); te uti (Kiribati); mautofu Samoa, motofu Samoa (Niue); hiku ‘i kuma, hiku‘kuma, ‘iku ‘i kuma, iku ‘ikuma (Tonga); turulakaka, tumbutumbu, serakawa, lavenia, se karakarawa (Fiji) Verbenaceae herb
Tabebuia heterophylla English: pink tecoma, pink trumpet tree, white cedar; Other: calice du pape Bignoniaceae tree
Tecoma stans English:  yellow bells, yellow-elder, yellow trumpetbush; Other:  peeal (Puluwat), piti (French Polynesia, Tonga) Bignoniaceae small tree
Thevetia peruviana English:  yellow oleander, be-still tree, lucky nut; French: oléandre jaune; Other: koneta (Chuuk); nohomalie (Hawai'i); irelepsech (Yap) Apocynaceae small tree
Tradescantia spathacea English: oyster plant, boat plant, boat lily, moses in a boat; Other: talotalo, laupapaki (Niue) Commelinaceae herb
Triphasia trifolia English: limeberry, lemon China; Other: limon-China, lemon de china, limoncito (Guam) Rutaceae shrub
Triumfetta semitriloba English: Sacramento bur; Other: dadangsi, masiksik lahe (Guam) Tiliaceae shrub

Table 4. Native and naturalized species that exhibit aggressive behavior

Scientific Name Common Names Family Habit
Canna indica English:  canna, canna lily, Indian shot; French: balisier comestible, tous-les-mois; Other:  mongos halum-tano (Guam); luiuenwai (Pohnpei); apeellap, oruuru (Puluwat); fanamanu, fagamanu, fa‘i masoa (American Samoa and Samoa); gasau ni ga (Fiji); te riti (Kiribati), misimisi (Tonga); fagafaga (Futuna); ali‘ipoe, li'ipoe, poloka (Hawai'i); pia-raroto‘a (French Polynesia) Cannaceae herb
Casuarina equisetifolia English:  casuarina, ironwood, Australian pine, she-oak, horsetail tree, beefwood; French:  arbe de fer; Spanish: arbol de hierro; Other: nach (Yap); lach (Ulithi); laash (Woleai); weeku (Chuuk); gagu, gago (Guam, CNMI); weighu (CNMI-Carolinian); pientri (pinetree), nidil, bû ukam (bluegum on some atolls), nidõ (needle" on some atolls) mejinoki (Marshall Islands); toa (American Samoa, French Polynesia, Hawai‘i, Niue, Samoa and Tonga); ‘aito (French Polynesia); nokonoko, nakure, qaro (Fiji); te katurina (from Ecoport, source not given) Casuarinaceae tree
Chrysopogon aciculatus English: Mackie's pest, lovegrass, seed grass, golden beardgrass, seedy grass (Solomon Islands); French: herbe plate, herbe à piquant; Other: papapa (French Polynesia); inifuk, palaii (Guam); manienie ‘ula, pi‘ipi‘i, pilipili ‘ula (Hawai‘i); mosie fisi (Niue); iul (Palau); mutia tai, mutia vao (Samoa); matapekepeke, matapekapeka matapekepeka (Tonga); herbe plate (Vanuatu) Poaceae grass
Ischaemum polystachyum English: paddle grass; Other: mah (Kosrae); reh padil (Pohnpei) Poaceae grass
Melochia umbellata English: melochia Sterculiaceae tree
Saccharum spontaneum English: wild cane, false sugarcane; French: canne à sucre fourragère, canne sauvage; Other: banga ruchel (Palau); ac (Kosrae); tebu salah; ahlek, ahlec, (Pohnpei); to aheo (French Polynesia) Poaceae grass
Trema orientalis English: charcoal tree, gunpowder tree; Other:  agaunai, banahl, tal amama (CNMI); elodechoel (Palau); uanin (Yap); ndrou, ndroundrou, ndrikanaithembe (Fiji); aere (French Polynesia), mangele, manele, magele (Niue, Samoa, Tonga); bulasisi (from Ecoport, no source given) Ulmaceae tree

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This page updated 22 April 2006.